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June 6, 1980

At least some Soviet officials seem to realize that without Russian troops, the Babrak Karmal government in Afghanistan would quickly fall. According to one report circulating in Moscow, a ranking Soviet official, just back from Kabul, gave a closed lecture at a Moscow institute the other day.He impressed his audience of party officials with his realistic attitude.

When he called for questions, he was asked: "If Soviet troops pulled out, would the Babrak Karmal government remain in office?" "Certainly," he replied. "For about an hour and a half."m